Front piece for a tubular lock



May 9, 1961 M. M. CHECK FRONT PIECE FOR A TUBULAR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1958 INVENTOR. Man/ms M CHECK y 1961 M. M. CHECK 2,983,540

FRONT PIECE FOR A TUBULAR LOCK Filed April 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVE R.

A TTOIPNC'Y lock.

United States Patent FRONT PIECE FOR A TUBULAR LOCK Mathias M. Check, Stratford, Pa., assiguor to The Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn-, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. 7, 1958, Set. No. 726,703

4 Claims. (Cl. 291-337) This invention relates to a front piece for a tubular Those persons skilled in the art will appreciate that tubular locks are equipped with a latch tube in which a latchbolt moves, that tube being mounted in an opening that is formed in the front edge of the door. A decorative front piece is utilized with the latch tube to overlie the door opening at opposed sides of the tube, thus providing a finished appearance and contributing toward holding the latch tube in position relatively to the door. I have conceived by my invention an exceedingly novel front piece for a lock of the particular class, having features of very considerable merit.

As an important feature of my invention, I utilize means whereby the front piece may be very easily assembled to the latch tube merely through a sliding movement, but with the front piece held against rotation relatively to the latch tube when in assembled position. For the particular purpose, I form the latch tube with end tabs extending transversely relatively to the longitudinal axis of the latch tube. I then form the front piece with detent portions that will ride behind the tabs on the latch tube when the front piece is moved sidewise relatively to the latch tube. the tabs, will be effective not only to hold the front piece assembled to the latch tube, but to prevent rotating movement of the front piece.

As a more detailed feature, the detent portions are shaped as hooks, and I form the tabs with edge parts that substantially fit inner surfaces on the hooks. Those edge parts on the tabs extend at opposed sides of the hook portions when the front piece is in assembled position, thus being effective to hold the front piece against rotating movement in the axis of the latch tube. I do prefer, however, to arrange a slight clearance between the tabs and that part of each hook that is behind the tab. That enables the front piece to tilt somewhat to adjust itself to the front edge of the door, while held against rotation in the axis of the latch tube.

Since my novel front piece cannot rotate, I can very well utilize the front piece to hold the latchbolt against rotation in those locks in which the bolt is rotated to adjust the lock to right hand or left hand operation. To change the hand of the latchbolt, the latchbolt 'first will be depressed to enable the front piece to slide sidewise away from assembled position. The bolt then can be rotated to the desired position, and will be held in that position through engagement in the opening of the front piece after the front piece is reassembled.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed de- Patented May 9, i961 scription thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to Thereby the detent portions, when behind prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing parts of my invention.

Fig. 2 shows the front piece and latch tube assembled.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, but shows the front piece assembled with with the latch tube relatively to the door.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 5 is a view on the line 55 in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are front views of the front piece and latch tube respectively.

Fig. 8 is a view on the line 8-8 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 shows a top view of the front piece.

For the purpose of describing my invention, 1 show in the drawings a latch tube 10 that is adapted to be mounted in an opening 11 formed in the edge of a door D. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the latch tube 10 has a spindle opening 12, and that a spindle 13 will be inserted through a bore 14 in the door when the latch tube is in assembled position, as in Fig. 3. The particular details whereby the spindle 13 is mounted and through which spindle 13 actuates the latch tube mechanism are not important to an understanding of my invention, but it will be appreciated that the latch tube 10 may be held in the door opening 11 through conventional means including spindle 13.

I indicate my exceedingly novel front piece generally by the numeral 15. In the construction that I prefer and that I show in the drawings, the front piece 15 has a circular periphery whereby it is adapted to fit into a counterbore 16 in the front surface of the door D. Further, the front piece 15 has an opening 17 for the bolt 18. The bolt 18 that I have chosen to illustrate is of the type having a round portion 18a, Fig. 5, that will allow bolt 18 to be rotated toadjust the lock to right hand or left hand operation. I do, however, shape the front piece opening 17 to hold bolt 18 against rotation, as I shall describe in due course.

In my invention, I form the opposed upper and lower edges of the front piece 15 with hook-shaped detent portions 19 that are bent from the material of the front piece. Further, 1 form the front end of the latch tube .10 with opposed tabs 26 well shown in Figs. 1, 7, and 8, that extend outwardly in perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of the latch tube. It is important to observe that outer edge parts 21 on the tabs 20, Fig. 7, are so formed as to substantially fit between opposed inner surfaces 19a of the hook portions 19 on the front portions riding behind the tabs as the frontpiece moves to assembled position relatively to latch tube 10. As will be best understood from Fig. 8 of the drawings, the tab parts 21 then will extend at opposed sides of book portions 19. in effect, therefore, the outer edge parts 21 of the tabs 29 have substantially the same spaced relation to one another as do the inner surfaces 1% of hook portions 19, thus allowing sliding of the hook portions, but with those edge parts 21 extending beyond the diameter in which the hook surfaces 19a lie, so that, the hook portions cannot rotate. In the form of my invention that I prefer, and that 1 show in the drawings,

I form stepped surfaces 22 on medial portions of the tab parts 2.1. Those stepped surfaces 22 may coact somewhat more positively with the hook portions 19 to hold front piece is? against rotation, but the stepped surfaces 22 are not an essential part of my invention.

1 shall now call attention, while referring to Fig. 8, to the fact that vl make relatively narrow that part of each book portion 19 that is behind a tab 20. Further, hook portions 19 have a slight clearance relatively to the tabs 29 as may be seen in Fig. 5. The particular purpose of that .construction will be appreciated when it is realized that it will enable the front piece 15 to tilt somewhat in a transverse direction relatively to the axis of latch tube lit. Thereby I enable the front piece 15 to adjust itself relatively to the front of the door D, or more particularly to the counterbore 16, when the front piece and latch tube are assembled on the door.

When the front piece 15 is in the counterbore 16 on the door, that counterbore will hold the front piece against sidewise movement. Therefore, front piece 15 cannot move out of assembled relation to the latch tube 10. Front piece 15 nevertheless can tilt somewhat in order to adjust itself to the door. Moreover, the tabs 20 by their coacting relation to detent portions 19 will hold front piece 15 against rotation relatively to latch tube 10. That enables me to utilize the front piece 15 to hold bolt 13 against rotation. In those instances in which it is desired to rotate the latchbolt to reverse the hand of the lock, that can very readily be accomplished while latch tube it is out of the door opening 11. To do that, latchbolt it first will be depressed, and front piece 15 will be removed by a sidewise movement. Latchbolt 18 then will move to projected position, in which the round bolt portion 13a will allow the bolt to be rotated. The bolt then will be depressed to allow front piecc 15 to be reassembled through sidewise movement relatively to the latch tube if. When bolt 18 again movestoprm jected position in the front piece opening, thefront piece 15 will be fully effective to hold itagainst rotationrelatively to latch tube 10.

I believe that those persons skilled in the art will now understand the operationand the several advantages of the exceedingly novel front piece that I have conceived by my invention. Actually, I am able to achieve those advantages through a construction that is quite simple and inexpensive to manufacture. I believe, therefore, that the very considerable value of my contribution will be fully appreciated.

I now claim:

1. In a lock of the class described, a tubular case adapted to be inserted in an opening in a door, a pair of tabs extending outwardly from the outer periphery of said case at diametrically opposite points adjacent one end of said case, a decorative front piece adapted to overlie said opening, said decorative front piece having a central guide opening for a latch bolt and detents extending from the surface thereof at diametrically opposite points, said detents extending over the outer edges of said tabs and having radially inwardly turned end portions extending radially inwardly behind said tabs to thereby limit relative axial movement between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, said front piece and tubular case being so formed as to provide portions cooperating whenthefront piece is in assembled-position to prevent relative rotation between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, said detents having substantial axial clearance between said inturned end portions and the remainder of said decorative front piece to permit said decorative front piece to be removed from and assembled with said tubular case by relative lateral movement between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, and said front piece being adapted in its assembled position to fit in a recess in the door so as to be held against lateral movement and in assembled relation to said case.

2. In a lock of the class described, a tubular case adapted to be inserted in .an opening in a door, a pair of tabs extending outwardly from the outer periphery of said case at. diametrically opposite points adjacent one end'of said case, a decorative front piece-adapted to-overlie said opening, said decorative front piece having a central guide opening for a latch boltand detents extending from the surface thereof at diametrically opposite points, said detents extending over'the'outercdges of said tabs and having radially inwardly turned end portions extending radially inwardly behind said tabs to thereby limit relative axial movement-between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, said'detents having substantial axial clearance between said inturned end portions and the remainder of said decorative front piece to permit said decorative front piece to be removed from and assembled with said tubular case by relative lateral movement between said decorative front piece and'said tubular case, said frontpiece being adapted in its assembled position to fit ina-recess in the door so as to be held against lateral movement and in assembled relation to said case, andsaid detents and tabs having cooperating surfaces engageable to prevent relative rotation between said decorative front piece and said tubular case. 7

3. In a lock of the class described, a tubular case adapted to be inserted in ,anopening in a door, a pair of tabs extending outwardly from the outer periphery of said case at diametrically opposite points adjacent one end of said case, a decorative front piece adapted to overlie said opening, said decorative front piece having a central guide opening for a latch bolt and detents extending from the surface thereof at diametrically opposite points, said detents extending over the outer edges of said tabs and having radially inwardly turned end portions extending radially inwardly behind said tabs to thereby limit relativeaxial movement between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, said front piece and tubular case being so formed as to provide portions cooperating when the front piece is in assembled position to prevent relative rotation between said decorative front pieceand said tubular case, said detents having substantial axial clearance between ,said inturned end portions and the remainder'of said decorative front piece to permit said decorative front piece to be removed from and assembled with said tubular case by relative lateral movement between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, said front piece being adapted in its assembled position to fit in a recess in the door so as to beheld against lateral movement'and in assembled relation to said case, and said inturned portions of said detents having substantial axial clearance with said tabs so that said decorative front piece may betilted relative to said tubular case.

4. In a lock of the class described, a tubular case. adapted to be inserted in an opening in a door, a pair of tabs extending outwardly from the outer periphery of said case at diametrically opposite points adjacent one end of said case, a decorativefront piece adapted to overlie said opening, said decorative front piece having a central guide opening for a latch bolt and detents extending from the surface thereof at diametrically opposite points, said detents extending overthe outeredges of said tabsand having radially inwardly turned end portions extending radially inwardly behind said tabs to thereby limit relative axial movement between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, said detents having substantial clearance between said inturned end portions and the remainder of said decorative front piece to permit said decorative front piece to be removed from and assembled with said tubular case by relative lateral movement between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, said front piece being adapted in its assembled position to fit in a recess in the door so as to be held against lateral movement and in assembled relation to said case, said detents and tabs having cooperating surfaces engageable to prevent relative rotation between said decorative front piece and said tubular case, and said inturned portions of said detents having substantial axial clearance with said tabs so that said decorative front piece may be tilted relative to said tubular case.

Schlage June 25, 1929 Schlage Nov. 5. 1946 

